Marcus Rashford believes Manchester United did not have this togetherness two years ago as praised the team s performance in their Europa League opener.
United kicked off their Group L campaign with a stuttering 1-0 victory thanks to teenage sensation Mason Greenwood at home to Astana on Thursday.
Greenwood, 17, scored his first senior goal to lead Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s United past the Kazakh visitors in Manchester.
United were far from their best as Solskjaer named a youthful XI, but Rashford was happy with what he saw at Old Trafford.
Important win to get us up and running. Refocus now for the weekend
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford)
It wasn t the best performance but there was a lot of good stuff, they re tough to break down, Rashford told reporters.
If I look back to two years ago, I don t think the team had the togetherness to come through a game like that.
Everyone expects it to be easy but the opposition have come to win so it s always tough.
Portuguese full-back Diogo Dalot was also in the starting line-up as United named their youngest XI in a Europa League or Champions League game since December 2012.
It was Dalot s first appearance of the season after injury postponed the start of the 20-year-old s campaign at the Theatre of Dreams.
However, it was all about team-mate Greenwood, who is set to take on more responsibility this term following the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
Presenting our youngest-ever goalscorer in European competition: Mason Greenwood
This is what it means to him!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
He s been working hard, Dalot said. Mason, [Tahith] Chong, Angel [Gomes], the kids, myself, are working hard for this moment. He helped us today and I m so happy for his goal.
On United s young players, Dalot added: I think this club is all about that – if you re good enough you re old enough, that s another thing we want to keep in this club. If we keep working hard, I think Ole will give us a chance.
